Daily Times

A delegation comprising European Union (EU) observers on Wednesday visited different polling stations of the federal capital and termed the polling process smooth and peaceful. While talking to media at polling station No 113 in F-6/2, NA-53, head of the delegation Michael Gahler said that 120 members of the team will observe 87 different constituencies, which is 32 per cent of the total constituencies of the country. He said team members will observe the electoral process in the federal capital and Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). No member will visit Balochistan due to security reasons.

Replying to a question, Gahler said the overall assessment of the EU observers would be issued in a preliminary statement on July 27 (Friday). Talking about the security measures, he said, “What I have observed for the time being, the election process is running peacefully and security measures are good.” He observed that the polling staff showed sealed and empty ballot boxes in the presence of political agents of different political parties so that they could be a witness to the transparency of the process.

Replying to a question, he said the EU observers will observe some specific points including code of conduct being followed by military, staff of the Election Commission of Pakistan, sealed ballot boxes, ballot papers, turnout, security measures and the strength of the polling staff.

About access to media to cover the polling process, he said he himself did not observe any restrictions being faced by the media. Replying to a question about accessibility of EU observers to the polling stations, Gahler said, “Credit goes to ECP for providing us complete access to observe the entire election process.

Meanwhile, Gahler condemned attack near a polling station in Quetta. “This is a deplorable and cowardly attack on a day when voters across Pakistan should be casting their ballots in a peaceful environment, without fear or hindrance. Violence must not undermine the elections and the democratic process. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and the people of Pakistan.”

Published in Daily Times, July 26^th 2018.